Abstract

Recently we have witnessed several significant changes to the nursing
curriculum in the United Kingdom (UK). This review forms part of a larger study
evaluating the ‘fitness for practice’ elements of the nursing curriculum in Scotland.
Systematic review methods were used including the following databases: CINAHL
and BNI. Twenty six papers were retrieved and 14 remained after applying the
review criteria, the main rationale being the empirical focus. It appears that there
is a paucity of research in this area in the UK and papers dealt exclusively with
either content, process or outcome evaluation of the nursing curriculum. National,
well funded, multi-centre studies tended to be more rigorous. Results, where they
were positive about curricular changes, tended to be limited. There is clearly a need
for rigorous research into curriculum evaluation, both at the micro and macro level,
which investigates content, process and outcome. Without such research, curriculum
change will be uninformed.